The Giggles Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos (review)

The first day of school is going pretty well for a couple of young kids, but settling into storytime proves to be a challenge when one is hit with a fit of the Giggles—literally, as little potato-shaped creatures surround the poor kiddo, engulfing him in a sea of goofy faces and bouncing mischief. The narrator and other classmates try to hide from the Giggles to no avail, and soon Guffaws and Chuckles show up too. Finally, the teacher tries to calm down the class—only to get bowled over by a big Laugh herself. This will be much appreciated by any youngsters who's tried and failed to not crack up in a serious situation, and one protagonist's wide-eyed fear just as the Minion-like Giggles arrive will surely be relatable. The physical embodiments of the sillies are appealingly goofy, with helicopter Chuckles zipping around, the lovable monster-like Guffaw slapping kids on the back, and the Laugh, clearly a relative of the Kool-Aid Man, busting in to get the kids literally rolling on the floor with laughter. The composition of the digital illustrations gets a little awkward in some of the busier pages and the teacher is oddly stiff amongst the playful chaos, but the expressive kiddos and sturdy draftsmanship anchors most of the scenes. Youngsters who appreciated Eliopoulos' previous foray into the personification of the feels in The Yawns Are Coming! (BCCB 4/20) will relish this livelier tale.